The presidents of the nations making up the Andean Community — Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia — said on Aug. 29 that they would like Venezuela, Chile and Argentina to join the group as much of South America shifts left.
The presidents were in Lima for a meeting as Ecuador hands over the bloc’s presidency to Peru.
Petro’s remarks are also his first on a foreign tour after taking over the presidency earlier this month.
The desire to expand the Andean Community comes as much of South America has shifted left.
Since 2020, left-wing governments have taken over in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Chile. Ecuador, led by right-wing Guillermo Lasso, is now the outlier in the group.
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Venezuela and Chile were once members, while Argentina has never joined.
Venezuela left in the early 2000s under the socialist presidency of Hugo Chavez, while Chile was a founding member but left in 1976 during the right-wing dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
By Reuters
